Are tub grease guns any good?

[Kidds]

I hate greaseguns because they are always empty and make such a mess refilling them.
Is switching from cartridge guns to ones that use a tub the answer?
I have no issues using lever guns, just the cartridge changing. Today was the final straw, no grease coming out so went to change the cartridge only to have half a cartridge worth of grease all over the place. Would a tub version give me longer between these traumatic events?

 

[gatepost]

I use one, excellent, just runs out every other year which catches you out.

 

[Lincs Lass]

We used to use tub grease , when cartridges came along ,the tubs went out of fashion very quickly .
If you are greasing up away from the yard and run out ,cartridges are very handy , cant do that that with a tub unless you take two guns full

 

[Wood field]

Had one for literally decades, from my past as an engineer
I think it was a cheap( ish) machine mart one.
If you use a lot and have compressed air available, pneumatic ones are brilliant

 

[Kidds]

Greasing up is always at the yard, my place isn't big so easy enough to go back to the yard anyway.
Sounds like it is the way forward and no harm to have a cartridge one in reserve as well I guess.

Thanks all

 

[gatepost]

I have a pneumatic one as well, now that is the way to get through some grease, just press the handle and watch it slurp it all out, better than no grease though.

 

[hendrebc]

Stupid question maybe but I have found a full 5 gallon bucket of grease. And I've got 2 or 3 old grease guns that won’t fit cartridges so i assume they take grease out of said bucket. How do I get the grease in them without resorting to a spoon and more mess than changing cartridges

 

[dynosoar]

You have to suck it up carefully using the plunger handle making sure not to get any air in and also care to lock the plunger handle properly once full.
with practice you can fill one with very little mess. Not a common skill nowadays though I think.
A

 

[Netherfield]

Dragging a full bucket under a truck can be a ball ache, the pipe never seems to be just long enough to reach, better having both options.
Oh and after a while the bucket gets kicked around a bit and then the plate inside wont drop down.

A lot of my older grease guns had a nipple on them so you could pump grease in to them from the big one.

 

[Kidds]

Stupid question maybe but I have found a full 5 gallon bucket of grease. And I've got 2 or 3 old grease guns that won’t fit cartridges so i assume they take grease out of said bucket. How do I get the grease in them without resorting to a spoon and more mess than changing cartridges

Just unscrew the cylinder off the same as changing a cartridge, take the old cartridge out and it is just like filling a giant syringe. Screw the top back on and then release the plunger back in.

 

[Lincs Lass]

You have to suck it up carefully using the plunger handle making sure not to get any air in and also care to lock the plunger handle properly once full.
with practice you can fill one with very little mess. Not a common skill nowadays though I think.
A

The secret to tubs is hold the plunger and push the gun into the grease ,theoretically it shouldnt draw any air then

 

[Pan mixer]

I have filled guns manually for years, it does take practice.

I then bought one of those buckets pumps that will fill a grease gun up from the pump on the bucket (Sealey I think), this works brilliantly in the summer but not so good when the grease is cold or you are near the end of the bucket. 12 pumps and an empty gun is filled.

I use cartridges in the winter.

 

[JohnnyF]

There’s allot of waste with buckets and there not as clean as your thinking, just obviously it’s much less often you get covered.

 

[Wurzeetoo]

I have filled guns manually for years, it does take practice.

I then bought one of those buckets pumps that will fill a grease gun up from the pump on the bucket (Sealey I think), this works brilliantly in the summer but not so good when the grease is cold or you are near the end of the bucket. 12 pumps and an empty gun is filled.

I use cartridges in the winter.

You’re not allowed to keep your bucket of grease in the lounge either then?

 

[Zippy768]

Don't bother, kit is either too new to be greased or too old to deserve it

 

[Lincs Lass]

You’re not allowed to keep your bucket of grease in the lounge either then?

Only if you are moisturizing your feet at night with it.

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

You have to suck it up carefully using the plunger handle making sure not to get any air in and also care to lock the plunger handle properly once full.
with practice you can fill one with very little mess. Not a common skill nowadays though I think.
A

Have seen people put diesel on the outside of the grease gun before filling as it seems to come out of the grease bucket cleaner so not so much to clean of . Don't screw the end on tight until you've released the plunger as it allows some of the air to escape.

 

[Lakesdigger]

I hate greaseguns because they are always empty and make such a mess refilling them.
Is switching from cartridge guns to ones that use a tub the answer?
I have no issues using lever guns, just the cartridge changing. Today was the final straw, no grease coming out so went to change the cartridge only to have half a cartridge worth of grease all over the place. Would a tub version give me longer between these traumatic events?

Fuchs gun screw cartridges, job sorted.

 

[glasshouse]

I hate greaseguns because they are always empty and make such a mess refilling them.
Is switching from cartridge guns to ones that use a tub the answer?
I have no issues using lever guns, just the cartridge changing. Today was the final straw, no grease coming out so went to change the cartridge only to have half a cartridge worth of grease all over the place. Would a tub version give me longer between these traumatic events?

Tubs are fantastic
Spaldings one here on air
A joy to use esp on combine, discs etc

 

[David.]

Lubeshuttle.